BEAUTY STATION

Dr. Muhammad Nasir Rashid is an anti-aging expert and founder of Young Again, Pakistan’s first dedicated anti-aging and aesthetic clinic. He is an American Board-certified specialist in anti-aging medicine, aesthetic surgery and hair transplants.

Uncovering the truth behind the ‘Vampire Facial’

There isn’t much that Kim Kardashian can surprise us with anymore but when a photo of her with smears of blood all over her face went viral on social media last year, viewers were quite shocked. The reality behind what many termed a gruesome image was much less sinister, however. It turned out Kim was trying out a new anti-aging technique known as a PRP facelift and since then, the procedure has taken the international celeb world by storm.Contrary to what the photo suggested, a PRP facelift is neither icky nor painful. And the good news is that it is no longer confined to the high-end cosmetic clinics of Beverly Hills. The procedure is now available in Pakistan and we get the lowdown on it from an expert in the field, Dr. Muhammad Nasir.

Botox vs. PRP facelift

Botox and dermal fillers have dominated the market for anti-aging techniques for the longest time. While they are effective in reversing the signs of aging, they need to be repeated every few months, thereby increasing both the cost and the hassle of getting recurring treatments.

In the last few years,patients wanting to look younger are starting toprefer more natural and less invasive technologies. PRP facelifts, also known as ‘Dracula Therapy’ or ‘Vampire Facelift’ are non-surgical and semi-permanent, and claim to take at least ten years off your face. According to Dr. Nasir, the facelift improves skin discoloration, reduces fine lines and evens out skin texture. It is also great for erasing fine wrinkles and treating sun damage.

The best part is, the procedure does not need to be repeated as frequently as Botox and givesits patients a more subtle change as compared to the somewhat ‘plastic’ look created by Botox.

While the immediate affects of a Botox treatment might be more visible, a PRP facelift works to give the patient a natural and healthier-looking glow over time. Also, Botox is prepared in the labs of pharmaceutical corporations while a PRP injection is created out of your own body.

How does a PRP facelift work?

PRP stands for ‘Platelet Rich Plasma’ and the technique is used extensively to help athletes heal from sports-related injuries. The body is injected with a substance created out of your own platelets, which not only encourages growth and repair but also slows down the aging affects of the body.

A PRP facelift will require your aesthetician to take some blood from your body. He will then treat the blood under a mechanical device to separate the platelets and make them more potent. When the formula is ready, it is injected into the areas of the face that need the most TLC. If done right, the procedure is relatively painless, although patients might notice some redness around the affected area immediately afterwards.

What do Kim Kardanshain and Angelina Jolie have in common?

Besides the fact that they are two of the most photographed women on the planet, they are both fans of the PRP facelift, terming it almost ‘miraculous’ in reversing the signs of aging.

The bottom line

The beauty industry is obsessed with aging and there will always be a new craze or fad being tried out by some Hollywood celebrity or the other. What works in favour of the PRP facelift, or its more high-end alternative, the stem cell facelift, is the fact that both procedures use what’s already in your body (blood in case of the former and fat in the latter) instead of pumping you with formulas created in a lab. Just make sure you do your homework well if you are interested in undergoing any cosmetic treatment and engage the services of an aesthetician who is properly certified.

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3 comments

That's exactly what this wretched country where a quarter of the people live below poverty line needs. An army of Botox aunties flaunting their wealth in the face of those who cannot afford to eat. No wonder Pakistan is where it is.

I was with you till you equated this trend with Pakistan's current position. In all developed countries this trend has picked up. The bigger issue is this age obsession that women have that has been rooted in their minds through media's obsession with youth, and the society placing a woman's value in how young she looks.

That’s exactly what this wretched country where a quarter of the people live below poverty line needs. An army of Botox aunties flaunting their wealth in the face of those who cannot afford to eat. No wonder Pakistan is where it is.

I was with you till you equated this trend with Pakistan’s current position. In all developed countries this trend has picked up. The bigger issue is this age obsession that women have that has been rooted in their minds through media’s obsession with youth, and the society placing a woman’s value in how young she looks.